Hayden Paddon and Blenheim co-driver John Kennard will race in the season-ending Rally Spain after all.

Paddon says he is "more fired up than ever" to set the record straight, after a tough year in the Super 2000 class world rally championship.

Paddon's hopes of a second consecutive world title came to an abrupt end at Rally France a week ago and, with no chance of winning the S2000 class in Spain next month, he said his management team had to decide if it was worth racing.

It appears the answer was yes.

"While the championship would have been great, we have always said that this year showing outright speed is just as important - if not more," Paddon said yesterday. "The final round in Spain will give us another chance to do this."

Plenty of lessons existed to be learnt from France, Paddon said.

He missed a corner while leading comfortably on the final day and ended up in a ditch, and he had been breaking down all aspects of the rally as he attempts to prove his worth one last time.

The Geraldine driver is eyeing some starts in the top-tier world rally championship next year.

"I am now more fired up than ever to set the record straight after a hugely difficult year on an event that we did last year," Paddon said.

"We will get in a small amount of gravel testing for the one day of gravel during the event, while the final two days are tarmac," he said. Fairfax NZ

- The Marlborough Express

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